Morning Report: Daniel Cormier willing to fight Jon Jones again even if he takes banned substances

By Jed Meshew@JedKMeshew Jan 19, 2017, 8:00am EST

Recently, UFC heavyweight and fan favorite Mark Hunt made headlines for filing a civil suit against the UFC, Dana White, and Brock Lesnar, alleging racketeering, fraud, breach of contract, and negligence among eight charges surrounding his fight with Brock Lesnar at UFC 200.

Lesnar made his return to the UFC after a four and a half year retirement but the short notice nature of his return led to him receiving an exemption from the UFC from the full four month USADA testing before competition. Instead Lesnar was only tested for a month before the fight. Hunt complained about the favoritism being shown to Lesnar before the fight but maintained that he didn’t care if Lesnar was “juiced to the gills” because he was going to knock him out anyway. Instead Lesnar won a decision and then it was revealed that he had failed a pre-fight drug test.

In a similar set of circumstances with a very different result, that same evening Jon Jones was supposed to rematch UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier in the main event. Instead, Jones was flagged by USADA for failing a pre-fight drug test and pulled from the card. Instead, Cormier faced Anderson Silva in a non-title fight and Jones was eventually suspended for a year.

But unlike Hunt, Cormier says Jones’ suspension doesn’t change anything. Speaking with Colin Cowherd recently, Cormier said that he doesn’t care about Jones’ failed drug test, that he would have fought Jones the day after UFC 200 if they’d have let him, and that he has to fight Jones again for the sake of his career.

“Honestly, when that whole thing happened in July, I would have fought him two days later. It doesn’t matter. I just want to fight. I’m there to fight and because of our history and - I’m a competitor and I need to get back that. That means so much to me at my core that I’ve got to get it back. My life and career would not be okay if I had to walk away and not share the octagon again with that man.”

Jones defeated Cormier in 2015, winning a dominant decision to retain his light heavyweight championship. Shortly afterwards, Jones was stripped of his title and suspended by the UFC for outside the cage activity. Cormier has been trying to get a rematch with Jones since but Jones’ personal issues and a string of ill-timed injuries have kept the fight from happening. Now Jones is again being forced to sit on the sidelines until July as he serves his suspension from USADA and Cormier has a rematch with Anthony Johnson sometime this year, leaving a potential rematch with Jones up in the air. If the chance ever does come along though, Cormier says he will fight Jones even if Jones is actively taking performance-enhancing drugs.

“I’d fight him... If that was the case before, then the guy that I’m gonna fight the next time is not gonna be the same guy I saw the first time because of USADA and the drug testing that we are under now... But yes, I would fight him [even if he were on PEDs]. It doesn’t matter. The competitor in me and my belief in my coaches and my skill, I have to get that back. I can’t live with it.”

MUST-READ STORIES

Danger. Chael Sonnen believes the new grounded fighter rule makes MMA “more dangerous.”

Legend. Tito Ortiz says Chael Sonnen is not a “legend.”

Stockton. Tyron Woodley says not having a fight with Nick Diaz at UFC 209 was a “missed opportunity.”

Contender. Kelvin Gastelum wants a number one contender bout after beating Vitor Belfort.

Clearance. Rashad Evans says he’s been medically cleared to return.

MEDIA STEW

Full ESPN interview. Well worth a watch.

And here they are on Speak for Yourself.

And this thing keeps going on.

TTTHS

Tito not nearly as confident in his own fight.

Yair got no sympathy.

I want Cody to hire writers to come up with new stuff.

Mendes and Guida training together.

LISTEN UP

JBS

Show the Art.

One Punch Pod.

Heavy Hands.

TWEETS

Only one of those is a bantamweight.

Next hit list in this order @TJDillashaw @josealdojunior @TheNotoriousMMA @ufc
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) January 18, 2017

Held trying to get a quick turn around.

Who want see me in octagon again soon? https://t.co/BnpE85mXwP
— Marcin Held (@MarcinHeld) January 18, 2017

Respect.

Now that the news is out I just wanted to take a moment to thank the promotion that scooped me up. Coming into the UFC with 1 pro fight I was at a huge disadvantage, but Shannon Knapp saw my potential and wasted no time in calling me and putting me to work. I told her I wanted to get my experience up and they allowed me to do just that, booking me for 4 fights in one year! I don't think either of us expected a title run, I took it one fight at a time and eventually people started taking notice in a way I feel like they wouldn't have in any other promotion outside of the UFC. Thank you to the Invicta team for continuing to aid the development of women's mma with class and style, and giving fighters like me a platform to showcase our skills. It was an honor and privilege to be your Straw-weight Champion!

A photo posted by Angela "Overkill" Hill (@angieoverkill) on Jan 18, 2017 at 4:09pm PST

Hunt vs. USADA.

@alistairovereem jus finished my testing have they been testing u
Posted by Mark "Super Samoan" Hunt on Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Gil branching out.

I'll be calling my first fight tomorrow for @combateamericas with @betovision . Check us out on UFC fight pass. Im very happy to work with an organization that's giving these hungry , talented fighters a great opportunity and that's promoting the warrior way of the Latino fight culture. I just finished the fighter interviews and hearing these fighters stories, journeys and sacrifices in pursuit of their goals is inspiring. Can't wait to see them lay it all on the line. Fight fans show your support. ⚡️

A photo posted by gilbertmelendez (@gilbertmelendez) on Jan 18, 2017 at 3:34pm PST

Nah. It was the real one.

You held a Interim Belt? Cruz never lost his belt! @TJDillashaw @DominickCruz #Delusional ..I'm the undefeated undisputed Champion! https://t.co/GXEUMOAE6j
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) January 18, 2017

The champ is awesome.

No caption necessary #UFC pic.twitter.com/rpPBQufuFT
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) January 18, 2017

@DamonMartin why it gotta be a black horse?
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodIey) January 19, 2017

MMA fans.

There is no "gay stuff" or "normal stuff". There are rules & as a fighter you follow the rules. Kissing would be unsportsmanlike #AskBJM https://t.co/iyY7dtfTUX
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) January 18, 2017

Trash talk.

Says Mr. Chin-less (Don't be throwing rocks in a glass rooms) #4knockoutslosses #ufcHalifax https://t.co/yfNZNkx0Es
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) January 18, 2017

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Johny Hendricks (17-6) vs. Hector Lombard (34-6-1, 2 NC); UFC Fight Night: Halifax, Feb. 19.

TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2008: B.J. Penn finally won the UFC lightweight championship when he submitted Joe Stevenson at UFC 80.

2013: Vitor Belfort knocked out Michael Bisping with a head kick and punches.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Demian Maia better pray Woodley knocks out Wonderboy because if Thompson wins, I would be shocked if they didn’t run this thing back for a third go around. These two are great foils to one another. I will enjoy the next few weeks.

That’s all folks. See you tomorrow.

If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.